121 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
121 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
# Wargame Accessory Box & Dice Tray
|
||
|
||
A parametric OpenSCAD box for carrying tabletop wargaming accessories.
|
||
Four printable parts:
|
||
|
||
| Part | Purpose |
|
||
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
||
| `box` | Open tray. With the insert removed it doubles as a dice tray. |
|
||
| `lid` | Fully detachable lid, held shut by snap latches hinged on filament pins (or a classic friction fit). |
|
||
| `latch` | One-piece snap latch — print two per latch position. |
|
||
| `insert` | Removable compartment tray for tokens, measuring tapes, etc. |
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
## Quick start
|
||
|
||
Open `wargame_box.scad` in OpenSCAD and set the three `total_*` values to
|
||
the free space in your backpack — they are **outer** dimensions and
|
||
`total_z` already includes the closed lid, so the printed result fits the
|
||
measured space exactly.
|
||
|
||
Pick what to render with the `part` variable (or the customizer):
|
||
`assembly` (exploded preview), `box`, `lid`, `insert`, `latch`, `print`.
|
||
|
||
Or export everything from the command line:
|
||
|
||
```sh
|
||
make # exports stl/box.stl, stl/lid.stl, stl/insert.stl, stl/latch.stl
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
## The latch lid
|
||
|
||
By default (`lid_style = "latch"`) the lid is held shut by snap
|
||
latches that hinge on short pieces of filament:
|
||
|
||
* The **lid** carries pairs of lugs along its front and back edges.
|
||
* Each **latch** is a single printed part with a pivot barrel that
|
||
fits between a lug pair. Its window snaps over a chamfered catch
|
||
bar on the box wall; pull the flared tip outward to open.
|
||
* To assemble one latch: cut a ~23 mm piece of 1.75 mm filament,
|
||
slide it through lug → latch barrel → lug, and fix it with a drop
|
||
of glue **on the outer lug holes only** — the lug holes are sized
|
||
tight and the barrel hole loose, so the latch keeps pivoting
|
||
freely. Trim the pin flush.
|
||
|
||
Tuning knobs (all per side unless noted):
|
||
|
||
* `latches_per_side` — how many latches on each long wall
|
||
(default 2, evenly spread).
|
||
* `catch_proud` — how far the catch bar sticks out = how hard the
|
||
snap is (default 1.4 mm).
|
||
* `latch_play` — vertical play between latch and catch bar
|
||
(default 0.1 mm). Use a small negative value to preload the lid
|
||
shut.
|
||
* `filament_d` — hinge pin diameter, in case you want to use
|
||
2.85 mm filament or a piece of wire instead.
|
||
|
||
Note: lugs and latches stick out about 7 mm beyond the box on the
|
||
front and back, so allow `total_y + 14` of space in the backpack.
|
||
With latches doing the holding, a looser lip (`lid_clearance` around
|
||
0.3–0.4) makes the lid pleasant to take off.
|
||
|
||
Prefer the original hinge-free push-fit lid? Set
|
||
`lid_style = "friction"` and you get the old behaviour, including
|
||
the thumb grooves for prying the lid off.
|
||
|
||
## Configuring the insert layout
|
||
|
||
Compartments are defined by the `layout` list, one entry per row
|
||
(front to back):
|
||
|
||
```
|
||
layout = [
|
||
[1.0, [1, 1, 1, 1]], // front row: 4 equal token bins
|
||
[1.0, [2, 1, 1]], // middle row: 1 double-width + 2 small
|
||
[0.8, [1]] // back row: full-width slot (tapes etc.)
|
||
];
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
* The first number is the **row depth weight**.
|
||
* The list is the **column width weights** within that row.
|
||
|
||
Weights are relative, so the layout always fills the insert exactly no
|
||
matter what box size you choose. A row weight of `2` is twice as deep as
|
||
a row of weight `1`; a column weight of `2` is twice as wide as `1`.
|
||
|
||
To print a second insert variant (e.g. for a different game system), just
|
||
change `layout`, re-export, and swap inserts as needed. Two half-height
|
||
stacked inserts are possible too: set `insert_h_override` to about half
|
||
of the automatic height and print two with different layouts.
|
||
|
||
## How the parts work together
|
||
|
||
* The **lid** is a flat plate with a lip that plugs into the box opening.
|
||
With the latch lid the lip just aligns the lid (and keeps tokens in
|
||
their compartments); with `lid_style = "friction"` it carries the
|
||
whole fit. `lid_clearance` (default 0.2 mm per side) controls how
|
||
snug it is — print a test fit and adjust for your printer/material.
|
||
In friction mode, shallow thumb grooves on the box's front and back
|
||
walls let you pry the lid off; they do **not** pierce the wall, so
|
||
the dice tray stays fully closed.
|
||
* The **insert** sits below the lid's lip, so the lip also keeps loose
|
||
tokens from jumping compartments in the bag. Finger notches on its
|
||
short walls let you lift it straight out; then the empty box is your
|
||
dice tray. `tray_chamfer` puts a 45° bevel around the floor edges so
|
||
dice don't lodge in the corners.
|
||
|
||
## Printing notes
|
||
|
||
* No supports needed for any part. Print all parts flat side down
|
||
(the lid prints plate-down, lip and lugs up). The latch prints
|
||
standing on its flat side — that gives a clean pivot hole and puts
|
||
the layer lines along the strip, where the snap stress is.
|
||
* PLA or PETG, 2–3 perimeters, ~10 % infill (the parts are mostly walls).
|
||
* If the lid is too tight/loose, tune `lid_clearance` in steps of 0.05 mm.
|
||
Same for the insert with `insert_clearance` (looser is fine there —
|
||
it just needs to drop in and lift out easily).
|
||
* A piece of felt glued into the box floor makes dice rolling quieter;
|
||
if you plan this, add the felt thickness to nothing — the inner depth
|
||
is generous — but you may want `tray_chamfer = 0` for a flat floor.
|